October Historicals

Guest Author - Elizabeth Darrach

Hello, and welcome back! The soup pot's been busy in our house, and will soon be giving the bread machine a race, I think. Fall is definitely here. It's still nice enough that I can take my book outside in the afternoon, but no more evenings on the bench in the garden. At least for another six months or so. Good thing I have plenty of reading material to keep me busy inside.

I've been talking about this for the past few weeks here and in the last newsletter, but I'll mention it again--if you haven't stopped by the forum lately, you're missing out on the current big giveaway, with lost of books and some Romance Novels at BellaOnline goodies. All the rules and details are in the forum, but you must be a registered user to participate. Forum registration is free and painless, so if you want to get in on this, hurry on over!

So, back to the reading material...first up this week is the latest from Bertrice Small in her Friarsgate series, Philippa (NAL). Rosamund's eldest daughter Phillipa loses her intended husband--to the church--but finds a man much better suited to her in Crispin St. Clair, Earl of Witton. The history here is just right--not too much to overwhelm the romance, but not too little that the reader can't figure out where the story is set. Ms. Small has been, and remains, a wonderful storyteller. My biggest disappointment, however, is in the level of sensuality, which is nowhere near many of her previous books. That said, I still enjoyed this story immensely. I'm borrowing four of Cupid's five arrows for this one. And hoping her next gets back to steaming things up.

Next up is Connie Brockway's My Pleasure (Pocket). Helena Nash's position as companion to Lady Alfreda Tilpot puts her in a difficult spot when Lady Tilpot's great niece elopes and Helena must act as go-between for the secret newlyweds. Her stealthy doings bring her into contact with Ramsey Munro, whose temptations she cannot ignore. And eventually, "having an adventure" doesn't seem so attractive to her. This one is fun, with the right amount of steam between Helena and Ramsey. I'm giving it three and a half arrows.

Next is Rebecca Hagan Lee's Hardly a Husband (Berkley), the next in her Free Fellows League series. Sarah Eckersley's fate seems to be sealed: now that she's lost her home, she must become a courtesan to avoid marrying a dreadful viscount. Sort of. Jarrod, Marquess of Sheperdston, is just the man for her, but he isn't bride-hunting. So having him teach her all about the way of things between men and women seems to be just the way to get his attention. And hopefully his heart. The trouble is she only has thirty days to do it. A fun, light story that won't leave you disappointed. Sarah is creative and determined, and Jarrod will never know what hit him. I'm giving this one four arrows.

Finally, we have Barbara Metzger's A Perfect Gentleman (Signet). Ellianne Kane's mission is to find her sister, and if she has to hire Stony, Viscount Aubrey Wellstone, to do it, she will. But the man is gorgeous, and penniless. This one is sweet, and very proper, and with a hero you'll love. It's earned three arrows.